Out back after dark. As I was leaving the house, it occurred to me I’d forgotten a compass. What the heck. I knew the area and would relocate at the contours. I could follow my prints back in any event. Yet the area is generally featureless, swampy and thick (less so 10 years ago). The light of a good headlamp certainly doesn’t show the 'big picture'. Everything looked the same, the moon was behind cloud, the contours weren’t showing up. I could see a house light and basically knew where Allen and/or BBR was. Decided to make my way back since this wandering wasn’t working out as expected. I’d walked around a bit at that point but for the life of me, I could not find my foot prints out. I took direction from a house and headed that way. I didn’t go far before I realized it was my house. I’d walked a bunch in the swampy area but actually wasn’t far from where I’d entered it.
Got a compass and walked south to the contours with confidence. Spent some time on and above the contours, crossed the big depression and out a re-entrant noting the mapped tree (the only point feature on the walk) & back N to the house. Peaceful, pleasant and with a degree of certainty. Learned a lesson re what I guess I'd call false confidence.
Mid-PM drive with Beth to picturesque Warner. Ended up on Kearsage Mt. Rd. Went right to the end where Rollins SP begins. Explored the roads either side. There are some lonesome shack-like homes at the end of a few. Rims of hills, a gray,
stark even November day. Fine addition to an otherwise featureless Sunday afternoon.